The 51st Telluride Film Fest officially kicked off Friday afternoon with the world premiere of Piece by Piece, an animated documentary about the singer, songwriter, and record producer Pharrell Williams.

Directed by the Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom), this original film employs LEGO animations to illustrate Williams’ journey from the projects of Virginia Beach to the heights of showbiz, and the bumps he has experienced along the way. (Neville had never previously worked with animation.)

Williams is not only the film’s subject, but also one of its producers. That undoubtedly helped to pave the way for the film to incorporate many of the hit tunes that Williams has performed and/or produced over the course of his career — including the one with which he is most closely associated, “Happy” — as well as two new tunes.

One song, “Piece by Piece,” which features the Princess Anne High School marching band, could be a contender for the best original song Oscar.

In 2021, Flee became the first animated film ever nominated for the best documentary feature Oscar and the first documentary feature ever nominated for the best animated feature Oscar.

A documentary feature has never been nominated for the best picture Oscar. And only three animated features have been: 1991’s Beauty and the Beast, 2009’s Up and 2010’s Toy Story 3.

Focus Features will release Piece by Piece wide on Oct. 11.

The teams supporting Williams and Neville intend to push Piece by Piece not only for best animated feature, best documentary feature and best original song, but also for inclusion in the 10-slot best picture category.